Case Report, J Spine Neurosurg Vol: 1 Issue: 2
Intolerable Low Back Pain Due to Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum at the L5–S1 Level
| Seiichi Odate1*, Jitsuhiko Shikata1, Hiroaki Kimura1, Shigeru Amano2 and Tsunemitsu Soeda A1 | |
| 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine Centre, Gakkentoshi Hospital, Kyoto, Japan | |
| 1Department of Pathology, Nihon Cellnet Co.ltd, Kyoto, Japan | |
| Corresponding author : Seiichi Odate Gakkentoshi Hospital, 7-4-1 Seikacho, Seikadai, Sorakugun, Kyoto, Japan Tel: 81-774-98-2123; Fax: 81-774-98-2101 E-mail: s-odate@iseikai.jp |
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| Received: November 03, 2012 Accepted: December 05, 2012 Published: December 03, 2012 | |
| Citation: Odate S, Shikata J, Kimura H, Amano S, Tsunemitsu Soeda A (2012) Intolerable Low back pain due to Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum at the L5–S1 level. J Spine Neurosurg 1:2. doi:10.4172/2325-9701.1000104 |
Abstract
Intolerable Low Back Pain Due to Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum at the L5–S1 Level
A 37-year-old man presented with low back pain and leg pain. A CT scan identified ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF) at the L5–S1, causing foraminal stenosis. AnL5 nerve root block resolved his low back pain and leg pain completely. However, the symptoms recurred after the effect of the local anesthetic wore off. Because of persistent and intolerable low back pain, he underwent surgery, partial facetectomy and removal of the ossified ligaments followed by posterior instrumented fusion at L5–S1. Histopathology of the specimen revealed no apparent degenerative changes in the ligament. The patient’s symptoms had disappeared completely at the final follow-up. This case is different from previously reported cases: the chief complaint was intolerable low back pain; the patient was a young adult; it did not involve degeneration of the spinal elements; and did not involve coexisting ossification of other spinal ligaments. Although the pathogenesis of OLF remains still unclear, it is possible that OLF of the lower lumbar spine causes severe low back pain and is treatable by surgery.
